War between flesh and spirit

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
Aug 28, 2024
15
14
3
#1
*Romans 7-details the painful battle between our flesh and spirit.

Dear God, help me break the cycle of my out of control thoughts. I want Your truths to invade every decision, every emotion, every thought I have. In Jesus Name, Amen



Father, right now I cast all of my cares, worries, and anxiety unto You. I lay them down at Your feet and pick up Your peace, joy and hope. Phil. 4:6-8: 2 Corinthians 10:5

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You cannot choose your circumstances, but you can choose your thoughts. Prov. 4:23



What you feed your mind with becomes a mindset.

The conflict in you is your longing for more. A life of abundant joy. A life of abundant love, peace hope.


Confess what you believe not what you feel

Until we consider ourselves “crucified with Christ” ( Galations 2:20), the soul and body battle with the supremacy. We continue to live in a state of defeat until we die to self and allow the Spirit to have full control over every aspect of our lives, both inner and outer man.





-----------------------------------------------------------------------

HUMAN SPIRIT


The human spirit is the very breath of Almighty God and was breathed into man at the beginning of Gods creation.

The human spirit includes our intellect, emotions, fears, passions, and creativity


When Adam sinned, his ability to fellowship with God was broken; he did not die physically that day but he died spiritually

Upon the acceptance of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit of God joins with our own spirit in ways we cannot comprehend.

He has given us His Spirit... 1 John 4:13 =This is how we know that we live in Him and He in us.

When we allow the Spirit of God to lead our lives, the {“Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are Gods children Rom. 8:16. AS CHILDREN OF GOD, WE ARE NO LONGER LED BY OUR OWN SPIRIT BUT BY GOD’S SPIRIT WHICH LEADS US TO ETERNAL Life.
 

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2020
14,145
5,722
113
#2
I liked this read a lot

You know it goes way way back to when Adam ate the fruit God creates Adam

“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground,

and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life;

and man became a living soul.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭2:7‬ ‭KJV‬‬


“And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:

but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭2:16-17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

After they ate the fruit of good and evil there begins a conflict between the flesh of man and spirit of God

“And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh:

yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭6:3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Then he vows to destroy all flesh from before him. Then later we learn that man’s body when it dies returns to the dust it was formed of and his living spirit returns to God who gave it

“Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was:( flesh )

and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.”( spirit )
‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭12:7‬ ‭

at he knowledge of good and evil created this situation in us

“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭7:18, 21-23‬ ‭KJV‬‬


That which is born of the flesh is flesh;

and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”
‭‭John‬ ‭3:6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh;

but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:5‬ ‭

“For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh:

and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:1

“For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption;

but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6:8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

It is the spirit that quickeneth;

the flesh profiteth nothing:

the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”
‭‭John‬ ‭6:63‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

….And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:19-21, 24-25‬ ‭KJV‬‬
 

DavyP

Active member
Aug 11, 2024
281
95
28
USA
#3
I know we all... struggle with this war between our spirit and our flesh, and that's just the reality of this present world time, which is what Apostle Paul was explaining in Romans 7.

Paul showed that the law that condemned him to death is good, because it revealed sin that dwelt in his members, meaning his flesh. Some philosophers of men have instead come up with man-made doctrines against the simple doctrine of flesh vs. spirit that Paul was teaching in Romans 7; it is called 'Humanism', or as per the modern English Bible translations, "humanity".

Then finally in the rest of the Romans 7 chapter, Paul reveals that what he would do, he finds himself at times doing just the opposite. And what he would not do, he finds himself doing. He finds that there is a law, that when he would do good, that evil is with him, and that he delights in the law of God after the 'inward man' (meaning by our spirit from The Holy Spirit). Then Paul declares that sin dwells 'in his flesh'...

Rom 7:17-18
17 Now then it is no more I that do it,
but sin that dwelleth in me.
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
KJV

Rom 7:23
23 But I see another law
in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
KJV

That is not about any such "humanist" ideas; it is simply about this present world with our spirit that has to dwell in our imperfect flesh body. Our flesh body is NOT the real us. Our spirit with soul, which are always together, is the real person, and it continues to God when our flesh dies. Our flesh is part of this imperfect world which Lucifer caused God to bring when Lucifer first rebelled against Him in the old world, and God ended that old world and instead brought this present 2nd world earth age we live in now.

So don't beat yourselves up brethren over little slip-ups into sin that you may commit, though we in Christ should never... be found guilty of serious sins. Repent to Lord Jesus and ask Him forgiveness; work out our little sins we commit that our flesh causes with Him. And then get back to serving Him doing His work given to each per their calling.
 

ImLova

Active member
Aug 7, 2024
222
174
43
#4
This is really good reading. I think we all struggle more ore little in life. Some days is easy other is not. I have change a lot sins I became christian. From start if felt like my life totally change and I did not see any problem with struggling with my past ore thoughts. But as time go some of the thoughts and past behavior catch me up and I started to open up for.. Just one time... Just little... Only this little... and so on, and it made me fall all way back in to old behaviors.
I know God see to my heart and I can turn to him. It is only when I forget to trust in him and search to be close to him that I fall back. I don't know why it is so easy to forget. I so many times know I would better spend time praying and read the bible but instead I let myself to fall back. But in same time still there is so much in my life that have become better sins I was born again, and is not like I always let me fall back. I keep trying and I know God is with me.
 

Inquisitor

Well-known member
Mar 17, 2022
2,947
866
113
#5
*Romans 7-details the painful battle between our flesh and spirit.

Dear God, help me break the cycle of my out of control thoughts. I want Your truths to invade every decision, every emotion, every thought I have. In Jesus Name, Amen



Father, right now I cast all of my cares, worries, and anxiety unto You. I lay them down at Your feet and pick up Your peace, joy and hope. Phil. 4:6-8: 2 Corinthians 10:5

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You cannot choose your circumstances, but you can choose your thoughts. Prov. 4:23



What you feed your mind with becomes a mindset.

The conflict in you is your longing for more. A life of abundant joy. A life of abundant love, peace hope.


Confess what you believe not what you feel

Until we consider ourselves “crucified with Christ” ( Galations 2:20), the soul and body battle with the supremacy. We continue to live in a state of defeat until we die to self and allow the Spirit to have full control over every aspect of our lives, both inner and outer man.





-----------------------------------------------------------------------

HUMAN SPIRIT


The human spirit is the very breath of Almighty God and was breathed into man at the beginning of Gods creation.

The human spirit includes our intellect, emotions, fears, passions, and creativity


When Adam sinned, his ability to fellowship with God was broken; he did not die physically that day but he died spiritually

Upon the acceptance of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit of God joins with our own spirit in ways we cannot comprehend.

He has given us His Spirit... 1 John 4:13 =This is how we know that we live in Him and He in us.

When we allow the Spirit of God to lead our lives, the {“Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are Gods children Rom. 8:16. AS CHILDREN OF GOD, WE ARE NO LONGER LED BY OUR OWN SPIRIT BUT BY GOD’S SPIRIT WHICH LEADS US TO ETERNAL Life.
A very good OP.

Jesus left and the Holy Spirit arrived.

The Christian life is all about being led by the Holy Spirit now.

I don't think many understand the full implications of your opening post.
 

TMS

Senior Member
Mar 21, 2015
3,928
1,262
113
Australia
#6
The war between the flesh and spirit is the greatest battle we will ever have to fight.

If you can conquer the flesh you will be like Christ. The power comes from God and by us dieing, crucifying the flesh.
 
Aug 28, 2024
15
14
3
#7
A very good OP.

Jesus left and the Holy Spirit arrived.

The Christian life is all about being led by the Holy Spirit now.

I don't think many understand the full implications of your opening post.
The war between the flesh and spirit is the greatest battle we will ever have to fight.

If you can conquer the flesh you will be like Christ. The power comes from God and by us dieing, crucifying the flesh.
Very true
 

p_rehbein

Senior Member
Sep 4, 2013
30,700
6,888
113
#8
FYI:

Ephesians 6:12 - For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Ephesians 6:11 - Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 - For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (Read More...)

Psalms 91:1-16 - He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. (Read More...)

1 Peter 5:8 - Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

James 4:7 - Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Ephesians 6:13 - Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Deuteronomy 28:7 - The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.

Luke 10:19 - Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

2 Corinthians 10:4 - (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

1 John 5:4-5 - For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. (Read More...)

2 Corinthians 11:14 - And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

Matthew 18:18-20 - Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (Read More...)

Ephesians 6:11-12 - Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (Read More...)

Psalms 84:11 - For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
 

homwardbound

Senior Member
Oct 24, 2012
16,530
491
83
#9
This is really good reading. I think we all struggle more ore little in life. Some days is easy other is not. I have change a lot sins I became christian. From start if felt like my life totally change and I did not see any problem with struggling with my past ore thoughts. But as time go some of the thoughts and past behavior catch me up and I started to open up for.. Just one time... Just little... Only this little... and so on, and it made me fall all way back in to old behaviors.
I know God see to my heart and I can turn to him. It is only when I forget to trust in him and search to be close to him that I fall back. I don't know why it is so easy to forget. I so many times know I would better spend time praying and read the bible but instead I let myself to fall back. But in same time still there is so much in my life that have become better sins I was born again, and is not like I always let me fall back. I keep trying and I know God is with me.
Continue to grow in this grace given you Sis Hebrews 5:12- chapter 6
 

homwardbound

Senior Member
Oct 24, 2012
16,530
491
83
#10
The war between the flesh and spirit is the greatest battle we will ever have to fight.

If you can conquer the flesh you will be like Christ. The power comes from God and by us dieing, crucifying the flesh.
I see no one can conquer their own flesh much less any one else's, if can anyone can, then Christ came in vain for them, I see I need the risen Son in God's Holy Spirit to flow through me in my veins, not in vain
I see for me I gave up trying, turned to trust God to do in me what I see I can't do in myself
God did it for us all y'all on that cross it is finished for us to receive John 19:30, then the new life begins in us as new from Gos through risen Son, at least for me I see this after a long walk off a short pier daily
 

timf

New member
Jul 7, 2022
19
14
3
#11
Since we are free from the power of sin, we can choose to "mortify" the deeds of the flesh. I think this can be done through a type of "starvation" if we make no provision for the flesh, those deeds should die off from starvation. For example the person who have difficulty with alcohol may avoid going into bars.
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
19,216
6,610
113
62
#12
Since we are free from the power of sin, we can choose to "mortify" the deeds of the flesh. I think this can be done through a type of "starvation" if we make no provision for the flesh, those deeds should die off from starvation. For example the person who have difficulty with alcohol may avoid going into bars.
While this is an excellent practical start, it will not solve the problem. The problem lies in the desire for the sin itself, and this is a matter of the heart. Psalm 37:4 is the way the heart is changed...as we delight ourselves in the Lord, He will give us the desires of our heart.
 

ImLova

Active member
Aug 7, 2024
222
174
43
#13
Continue to grow in this grace given you Sis Hebrews 5:12- chapter 6
Thank you. and yes, I do not want to go backwards ore stay still. I want to keep in reading the bible a search got to be closer to him all the time.
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
60,168
29,467
113
#14
While this is an excellent practical start, it will not solve the problem. The problem lies in the desire for the sin itself, and this is a matter of the heart. Psalm 37:4 is the way the heart is changed...as we delight ourselves in the Lord, He will give us the desires of our heart.

Psalm 37:4
:)
 
Aug 28, 2024
15
14
3
#15
FYI:

Ephesians 6:12 - For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Ephesians 6:11 - Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 - For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (Read More...)

Psalms 91:1-16 - He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. (Read More...)

1 Peter 5:8 - Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

James 4:7 - Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Ephesians 6:13 - Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Deuteronomy 28:7 - The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.

Luke 10:19 - Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

2 Corinthians 10:4 - (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

1 John 5:4-5 - For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. (Read More...)

2 Corinthians 11:14 - And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

Matthew 18:18-20 - Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (Read More...)

Ephesians 6:11-12 - Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (Read More...)

Psalms 84:11 - For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
 
Feb 21, 2016
848
196
43
#17
Romans 12:2
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Years back Jesus and I were talking about this verse.And I said "I'm my worst enemy?!"
Then even years after that the Holy Spirit was talking to me in my sleep, and he was saying something which I forgot but then he spoke
This same verse and ended it with "you're your worst enemy."

The Kingdom of God is within,and so it is the same with the Kingdom of darkness.The serpent was defeated at the cross so why give him a foothold?

You can't overcome this flesh without God.
 

homwardbound

Senior Member
Oct 24, 2012
16,530
491
83
#18
Since we are free from the power of sin, we can choose to "mortify" the deeds of the flesh. I think this can be done through a type of "starvation" if we make no provision for the flesh, those deeds should die off from starvation. For example the person who have difficulty with alcohol may avoid going into bars.
You correct, there are many avenues of the flesh and blood nature to take to get one off of bad habits. Such as not going to bars, to keep from drinking.
No matter how it might be diced, sliced, or cubed to get separated to do or not do things in our flesh natures (First Birth) Is not healed or is it with the thought of pride, I get it others do not get it, but I got it, really?
Pride and guilt are of the enemies of God, the Father of the Son the risen
Jesus. That first in his one time death took away sin in his Father's sight for us the people to be as are today reconciled (forgiven) that is done under the Son, Jesus Christ.
Leaving, left only one thing left to believe his death took away all sin in his Father's view, for us to get given new life in his risen Life, to lead us, at least me new, with old bad habits that Are waxing away and have, still being processed in God's Love and mercy for us all by Son to us all. I look back and see alcohol gone now 40 years ago.
God gets all the credit in this, not me, if I take any credit in leaving it, then it will be back and haunt me as does many other things to this day, as my iniquities, that keep me humble and not prideful, Freed by God, Therefore I am no better than others that have not yet quit that terrible disease or others as of anger.
I speak to me mainly, thanks
 

homwardbound

Senior Member
Oct 24, 2012
16,530
491
83
#19
Thank you. and yes, I do not want to go backwards ore stay still. I want to keep in reading the bible a search got to be closer to him all the time.
You realize, on that first day you chose to believe, you stepped out of Adam into Faith of Father and Son as won for you too.
Read Eph 1
Especially verse 13, seeing 6,7 verses
Sealed in God , accepted, and forgiven by God, what? But I just!
I heard in me when I saw these verse, Did I stutter? God saying God did it, that settles it, start exercising this in humility. Not easy when I have an ego, too. Still learning
Accepted, forgiven and sealed by God to see it, seeing it, not always understanding it, yet is truth, thank you.
Then seeing Phil 1:6, God carries on the work God started, amazing grace sis, amazing. So please see not to get caught up in the have to, should of's, could have done that differently,
as all that being true, is only from the first birth of us in flesh nature, to want to do right and see we can't we, at least me needs God in the lead over my ego.
Romans road, I see separated to me as in Chapters 1-3, 4-5, 6-8 it says the same thing over and over again, in different words, to bring home the King of Kings, who took all sin away for us each to believe and see Col 1:21-23 Nothing fro God to chide you for, nothing, yet from self and others we as people do that do we not?
 

ImLova

Active member
Aug 7, 2024
222
174
43
#20
You realize, on that first day you chose to believe, you stepped out of Adam into Faith of Father and Son as won for you too.
Read Eph 1
Especially verse 13, seeing 6,7 verses
Sealed in God , accepted, and forgiven by God, what? But I just!
I heard in me when I saw these verse, Did I stutter? God saying God did it, that settles it, start exercising this in humility. Not easy when I have an ego, too. Still learning
Accepted, forgiven and sealed by God to see it, seeing it, not always understanding it, yet is truth, thank you.
Then seeing Phil 1:6, God carries on the work God started, amazing grace sis, amazing. So please see not to get caught up in the have to, should of's, could have done that differently,
as all that being true, is only from the first birth of us in flesh nature, to want to do right and see we can't we, at least me needs God in the lead over my ego.
Romans road, I see separated to me as in Chapters 1-3, 4-5, 6-8 it says the same thing over and over again, in different words, to bring home the King of Kings, who took all sin away for us each to believe and see Col 1:21-23 Nothing fro God to chide you for, nothing, yet from self and others we as people do that do we not?
Thank you I will this more when I come home and read all the bible verses to :)